Brassieres



1966 J. J- LO CASCIO BRASSIERES Filed June 6, 1963 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR: '0 5.53.

JAC K J. LOCASCIO J n- 1966 J. J. LO CASCIO BRASSIERES 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed June 6, 1963 INVENTOR= JACK J. LoCASClO United States Pate t I 3,227,185 BRASSIERES Jack J. LoCascio, Bayonne, N.J., assignor to Glamorise Foundations, Inc., New York, N.Y., a corporation of I NewYork Filed June 6, 1963, Ser. No. 285,952

- 1 Claim. (Cl. 128510) This invention relates to new and useful improvements in shoulder strap type garments such as brassieres, corselets, slips, nightgowns, halters, bathing suits, and the like, and the principal object of the invention is to provide an improved shoulder strap structure for such garments which is integrated with the garment body itself to enhance proper fit, support and comfort.

This object is attained by providing a shoulder strap structure'which comprises a relatively wide, rnain strap member connected at one end thereof to' the back of the garment and adapted to pass forwardly over the shoulder, the front end of the main strap member dividing into a pair of relatively narrow auxiliary strap members which extend along and are stitched-to the inner and outer, upper edges of the garment breast portion, so that the supporting action afforded by the shoulder strap is evenly distributed'along the edges of the breast portion, rather than being concentrated at one or two suspension points as-in shoulder straps of conventional types.

The even distribution of supporting forces along the edgesof the breast portion eliminates creasing, pouching and other undesirable distortion, and particularly in the instance of garments such as brassieres, corselets and bathing suits which are closely fitted to the breast, a highly effective uplift is attained.

It is also within the concept of the invention to extend the auxiliary strap member along the outer edge of the breast portion along the upper edge of the connecting side portion of the garment to the back where the rear end of the main strap member is connected to the back portion, so' that in effect the shoulder strap structure supportably borders the entire upper edge of the garment and the entire edge of the arm receiving opening thereof.

Other objects, features and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein like characters of reference are used to designate like parts, and wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a front perspective view of a garment embodying the shoulder strap structure of the invention, the same being shown as it appears when worn;

FIGURE 2 is a fragmentary elevational view thereof in its open or relaxed condition;

FIGURE 3 is a view similar to FIGURE 2 but show ing a modified arrangement of the invention;

FIGURE 4 is a view similar to FIGURE 2 but showing another modified arrangement;

FIGURE 5 is a view similar to FIGURE 2 but showing still another modification;

FIGURE 6 is a plan view, on a reduced scale, of one of the shoulder straps per se; and

FIGURE 7 is a plan view, on a reduced scale, showing a running length of strap material from which the shoulder strap structure may be made.

Referring now to the accompanying drawings in detail, particularly to FIGURES 1, 2 and 6, the general reference numeral 10 designates a shoulder strap type garment embodying the invention. For illustrative purposes, the garment shown is in the form of a brassiere, although it is to be understood that the teachings of the invention are equally applicable to corselets, slips, nightgowns, halters, bathing suits and other garments of the shoulder strap type.

3,227,185 Patented Jan. 4, 1966 The garment 10 has a front region 11 including a pair of breast portions or breast cups 12, and connecting side portions 13 which extend rearwardly below the armpits to the back portions 14, in accordance with conventional practice. The garment is provided with a pair-of shoulder straps designated generally by the reference numeral 15, and since these are similar in construction, a description of one will sufiice for both.

Each shoulder strap 15 is preferably in the form of a relatively wide (approximately 1 inch) elastic band, one end portion of which is stitched along one side edge thereof as at 16 to the upper edge of the garment back portion 14. The strap then passes forwardly over the shoulder, this constituting the main strap member indi-' cated at 17. The forward end portion of the strap is longitudinally split as indicated at 18 in FIGURE 3 to form a pair of relatively narrow, auxiliary strap members 19, 20, which are approximately half as wide as the main strap member 17.

The auxiliary strap member 19 is contiguous with and stitched to the inner, upper edge 21 of the breast portion 12, while the other strap member 20 is contiguous with and stitched to the outer, upper edge 22 of the breast portion, whereupon it extends along and is stitched to the'upper edge 23 of the side portion 13, with its end terminating at the point where the main strap member 17 is connected to the upper edge 16 of the back section 14. As will be readily apparent from FIGURE 2, the shoulder strap structure 15 is integrated with the garment itself, sothat the supporting action afforded by the main strap member 17 is evenly distributed along both inner and outer, upper edges 21, 22 of the breast portion 12 for properly supporting the same without creasing, pouching, or other distortion. Moreover, the strap structure 15 borders the entire upper edge of the garment and also the entire edge of the arm receiving opening 24 thereof, and by utilizing a strap of elastic material, effective shaping or contouring as well as proper and comfortable support are attained. -A conventional buckle (not illustrated) may be used for adjusting the effective length i of the main strap member 17, although if the strap is elastic, the use of such a buckle may not be necessary. The strap unit 15 per se is shown in FIGURE 6, which as such may be made from a running length of elastic material to provide the main strap member 17 with the split 18 to form the auxiliary strap members 19, 20 as already described, a portion 19 of the member 19 being cut away inasmuch as the member 19 need not be as long as the member20. Alternatively, the narrow strap members 19, 20 may be separate from the wide member 17 and stitched thereto at the junction point 25.

FIGURE 3 shows a slightly modified shoulder strap arrangement wherein the auxiliary strap member 20 terminates at the joint 26 between the breast portion 12 and the side portion 13, without extending along the upper edge 23 of the side section or portion 13. Otherwise, the structure shown in FIGURE 3 is the same as in FIG- URES 1 and 2.

FIGURE 4 illustrates another modified arrangement wherein the auxiliary strap member 20 extends only to the joint 26 between the breast portion 12 and the side portion 13 as in FIGURE 3, but the rear end portion of the main strap member 17 is also longitudinally split to provide a pair of relatively narrow auxiliary strap members 17 and 17", the member 17' being extended along and stitched to the upper edge 16 of the back portion 14, while the strap member 17 extends along and is stitched to the upper edge 23 of the side portion 13, with its end terminating at the joint 26 and, in effect, constituting a continuation of the front strap member 20.

Finally, FIGURE 5 shows still another modified arrangement which is substantially the same as that in FIGURES 1 and 2, with the exception that the rear end of the main strap member 17 is secured to the back portion 14 only by the end of the strap member as indicated at 2'7, without following the top edge 16 of the back portion. This same arrangement may be also used in the arrangement of FIGURE 3, as will be readily apparent.

FIGURE 7 illustrates a running length of strap material which is provided along its longitudinal centcrline with longitudinally spaced, elongated openings or slots 28. Such material may be especially manufactured with the length of these slots and the distance between the slots being such that the material may be cut to length, for example, the length L, to provide both the main strap member 17 and the auxiliary strap members 19, 20 Without the necessity of splitting as at 18 in the ararangement of FIGURE 6.

Moreover, in the instance of the strap embodiment shown in FIGURE 4 wherein the narrow, auxiliary strap members are provided at both the front and the rear ends of the main strap member 17, the cut length L of the material as shown in FIGURE 7 may be increased by an additional length L to form the strap members 19, 20 at one end, and the strap members 17, 17" at the other end of the main strap member 17. It will be apparent that the especially made strap material of FIGURE 7 is already equipped with selvaged edges at the slots 28 to prevent unravelling, while in the strap arrangement of FIGURE 6 Where the strap is split, selvaging or binding of the split edges would be desirable. In both forms of the strap, the outer longitudinal edges thereof are preferably provided with scalloped, ornamental edging as at 29.

While in the foregoing there have been described and shown the preferred embodiments of the invention, various modifications may become apparent to those skilled in the art to which the invention relates. Accordingly, it is not desired to limit the invention to this disclosure and various modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the spirit and scope of the invention as claimed.

What is claimed as new is:

In a brassiere, the combination of a front section including a pair of breast cups having upper portions projecting above the center of the front section, said upper portions of said cups having downwardly convergent inner edges extending substantially in the form of a V from the top of the upper portions to said center of the front section and also having downwardly divergent outer edges extending from said inner edges at the top of the upper portions to the sides of the front section, a pair of back sections connected to and extending rearwardly from the sides of the front section for coaction therewith in torso encircling relationship, said back sections having rear ends and upper edges, the upper edge of each back section including a forward upper edge portion which constitutes a continuation of the outer edge of the upper portion of the adjacent breast cup and extends rearwardly therefrom to a point intermediate the length of the back section and a rear upper edge portion which extends from said forward upper edge portion to the rear end of the back section, and a pair of elastically stretchable supporting straps, each of said straps having an intermediate portion of a given width, a longitudinally split front end portion forming forward inner and outer strap members each of half the given strap width, and a longitudinally split rear end por tion forming rear inner and outer strap members each of half the given strap width, said forward inner strap members being contiguous with and secured to said downwardly convergent inner edges of said cups and extending therealong in substantial V formation to the point of the V, said forward outer strap members being contiguous with and secured to said downwardly divergent outer edges of the cups and extending therealong to the sides of said front section, said rear inner strap members being contiguous with and secured to said rear upper edge portions of said back sections and extending therealong to the rear ends thereof, said rear outer strap members being contiguous with and secured to said forward upper edge portions of said back sections and extending forwardly therealong to meet with said forward outer strap members at the sides of the front section, said intermediate portions of said straps between the split front and rear end portions thereof constituting shoulder straps and coacting with said forward outer strap members and said rear outer strap members to define openings for reception of the wearers arms.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 487,149 11/1892 Krouse et a1. 2338 1,864,476 6/1932 Rutledge 2-67 X 2,016,516 10/1935 Robbins 128-451 2,202,058 5/1940 Malnick 128-483 2,949,916 8/1960 Paveza 128489' 3,066,676 12/1962 Kaupp 128--498 3,120,848 2/1964 Seperack 128510 ADELE M. EAGER, Primary Examiner.

JORDAN FRANKLIN, Examiner. 

